The Democratic advocate., 1887-07-16


said to the housekeeper, ''There is ghost
here, isn't there-a lady? wish you
would tell me about her"
The woman looked shocked at this direct
attack, but recovered herself promptly, anC
said, "Oh, madam, there are always foolish
stories about old houses of this kind, but
there is no ghost here.
'Don't be afraid to speak out" l per
sisted "My friend does not object tC
ghosts; what you say will neither affect hel
in one way nor the other. If she like
the house, and the terms suit her, she will
take it, ghost or no ghost"
at is no ghost, then" maintained the
housekeeper, stoutly. sI know there is {
silly rumor that the house is haunted, and
dare say that will stand in the way oi
letting it, but"
But at this moment Mrs. Arbuthno
strolled back to us. She still looked hall
asleep, and as if unable to believe herself
in the living world. Any one might have
imagined her to be in state of mesmeric
somnambulism. Once or twice the house
keeper gazed at her in surprise, but she
was quite unconscious of this. But how
surprised the poor woman must have been
when, on our leaving the last downstairs
room, Mrs. Arbuthnot at once, and as it ii
were quite natural that she should do so,
took the lead of the party. She walked tc
one of the doors in the hall, opened it and
went through it. How could she know
that this was the door which led to the
stairs There were SO many doors, and all
were SO exactly alike. She slowly ascended
the stairs, and we followed her. Her eyes
we're not bent on the way she was taking,
but on the pictures; ours were bent on her.
One after another she passed with an air
of awe-struck recognition, and when at last
she reached the top of the stairs and saw a
long corridor stretching out before her, she
seemed as if she could go no farther, but
sank down on chair and told me to walk
on with the housekeeper, and she would
rejoin us in minute or two.
I saw plainly that it was not rest that
she needed, but solitude to recover her self
control, and after awhile she came to us
looking like one who had struggled with
herself and gained partial victory. 1t
was long corridor running the whole
length of the house. Many doors opened
out of it. Antique cabinets stood between
them, pictures and rare old engravings hung
above. We had no time to examine these,
though sometimes she stopped abruptly to
look at one; but when we reached the end
she said, "Where is the archway?"
"Hush, Laura" l exclaimed, and laid
my hand on her arm, for what did she
know about archways here, and her manner
was so odd and excited.
"Ah, I was sure you knew the place, :"
said the housekeeper, triumphantly. CHER
ladyship had the archway built up week
or two ago; she thought don't quite
know what she did think-but she had it
built up. Oh, think she thought the
house would be great deal warmer with
out it."
was sure that knew why Lady Olive
had blocked up this door, She had !
foolish woman that she was-belieyed that
this might check the ghosts power of mov-
ing about. But what was Laura doing
She was standing by the blocked up arch
way-a large picture now hung before it,
but the housekeeper was pointing out an
uncovered bit of the moulding, and my
poor friend was gazing at it with dilated
eyes. The housekeeper must have thought
her very uncanny-I was beginning to
think her uncanny myself. To hide the
strangeness of her behavior, again tried
to lead the housekeeper into conversation.
"You say that Lady Olive wishes to let
Lealholm for some yearsT'
ayes, madam, but / don't think she
would object to tenant for the summer
months"
"Mrs. Arbuthnot would only want it for
two months-would that be too short a
timer"
aOh no, 1 am sure her ladyship would
let her haye it"
So far, so good; but what was Laura
doing? She was still standing By the
blocked-up archway, and sometimes looking
at it, and sometimes round about her, with
as much mournfully affectionate interest as
if she were revising the long -forsaken home
of her childhood. 1 saw that she did not
look as If she could either bear to speak or
be spoken to, so | tried to keep the house
keeper away from her, and said HI4ady
Olive has gone to her Scarboro house, l
suppose?"
dyes, madam. l think she likes it
best"
sYou have not told us the rent of this
it is not very high, l trust p
''If the lady thinks of taking the house,
was her guarded reply, II will send for the
agent-he lives quite near"
So | went to poor. dear Laura, and asked
in whisper if she thought of taking it.
Taking itr' she exclaimed, "of course
| shall take it. 1t would be strange if |
didn't"
"But the terms may not suit you"
urged, for she never seemed to think of
that, and it was 4 large and handsome
house, though 1t was so out Of the way of
every one and everything.
"They must suit will make any sac
ri6ce-I must have it.
Il wonder wby-I wish you would tell
me-
'Not now," she answered let us ask
about the rent. But must
"Dont decide now," | said, anxiously,
for her manner alarmed me. "Consult
your family. This is very lonesome
place-suppose you were i'll, and wanted a
doctor" | was forced to remind her of
this, for saw that she needed one already,
"Never mind that Never mind any.
thing but securing what want"
"You are ill"
''No am mott is not that"
"Then what is it ?"
But Just as she was about to speak, the
housekeeper came back and said that luck
ily there was no need to send for Mr..
Taylor, for he was in the house and would
see us at once.
"Do take one night to consider"
pleaded. "You are deciding far too quick
ly."
II must decide quickly" she replied,
pressing eagerly onward. "If | lose this
opportunity, the whole thing will fade
away. 1 shall never have another"
She soon settled everything with the
agent. She was to pay 16 guineas a week.
n